144 er) are unquestionably blessed with greater charisma. Born in the after-war period, many of them got the hang of debating their opinions and sharpen¬ ing their rhetorical skills during the events of May 1968, in their campaign for reforming the Fine Arts teaching system and abolishing the workshop set-up. The academic establishment has been replaced by a more subtle form of domination that leaves little room for young people in institutions and the debating forum. To make up for their lack of built works, which closes the door to them on competitions, some young architects have called for open, anonymous competitions, even if this means foregoing fees. But they have come up against stiff opposition from trade syndicates.The French architectural scene would therefore appear to be locked in a catch twentytwo situation.
Centralized decision-making in Paris is something that young architects from the provinces complain most about.They say its an uphill struggle winning commissions in regions other than their own. Those who have managed to get published wryly refer to the «high-speed train approach» adopted by the extremely Parisian architectural press, which hardly ever takes the time to venture off the beaten track and pay provincial practices a visit. And yet the facts reveal that being estranged from the capital is not necessarily a bad thing. Young architects don't come off too badly if their region is in sound economic health and boasts a good public contracting authority. Regional expansion has spawned new hubs of architectural exhi¬ bitions and thought, whose premises are often located on national heritage sites steeped in symbolic references. Apt examples are the Arc en Rêve centre that sits in a former Bordeaux wine storehouse, the Thomas More centre near Lyon, housed in Le Corbusier's Couvent de la Tourette, and the Arc en Senans building in Ledoux's saltworks near Besançon. Not to men¬ tion the important role played by a number of contemporary art museums, such as Grenoble, Lille, Orléans and Nice. Several provincial architectural schools, whose professors include well-known architects, likewise contrib¬ ute towards enhancing the value of the profession. Back to Basics Despite their more unassuming air, today's young architects are triggering a real turning point in architectural creation.Their outlook on modern tech¬ nology is much more nuanced and breaks with university spiels about in¬ dustrial high-tech. Instead of rushing into innovation at any price, they exchange addresses of good construction firms with a view to ensuring structural quality.The «immateriality» of glass, formerly a number one fa¬ vourite in official programs, is being ousted by back-to-basic materials.More opaque components, such as wood, copper and steel are back in vogue, all subject to an ageing process. Light remains a testing ground in its own right, but cheaper synthetic elements with translucent qualities, such as polycar¬ bonate, have overtaken glass to become the «in» products. This revival of basic materials is often rooted in the practice of other art forms, such as photography, sculpture and theatrical installations. While «Image» architecture of the 1980s sought visual impact, more recent works also appeal to the other senses. User-friendliness, coupled with sound and heat insulation seem to have made a comeback.What's more,today's gener¬ ation, marked by the information technology revolution, has paradoxically cultivated a certain raison d'être in its conceptual use of the scale model. While their projects often hinge on revitalizing urban outskirts, they do not claim that they alone can restore a strong sense of identity to these places. Naturally, opposing standpoints arise, such as the two Parisian archi¬ tects Frédéric Borel and Dominique Lyon, one advocating singularity and architectural whims, and the other championing ordinary, blithe moderni¬ ty. But most have chosen not to opt for controversy or the radical. Yves Arnod meaningfully summarizes his stance by «neither nor» -neither Ven¬ turi-like distortions of image, nor a Rem Koolhaas proving ground.The main focal point has once again shifted to the site's relationship with its land¬ scape, just like urban architecture a few years back, to the extent that in Roche, DSV & Sie.P's theoretical works it becomes the very matter and form. In short, this is a generation exploring the uncertainties of the new milleni¬ um. moderne. Mais la plupart n'opte pas pour l'expression polémique et radicale. Arnod résume significativement sa position par le «ni ni»: ni Venturi et ses détournements d'image, ni Rem Koolhaas et ses expérimentations systémati¬ ques. Les prises de positions théoriques sur le site s'opèrent d'abord dans la relation au paysage qui à l'instar de l'architecture urbaine il y a quelques années est devenu la référence projectuelle principale jusqu'à devenir dans les travaux théoriques de Roche, DSV & Sie. P la matière même et la forme. Reflets d'une génération qui explore les incertitudes du nouveau millénaire. Une génération à suivre ...
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